Hunger, famines, and poverty: A few considerations of political economy

Abstract

The relationship between long-term poverty, famine and human deprivation continues to be a mater of discussion and debate in the professional literature. In the context of the South Asian experience, two main propositions have been advanced: one, countries or societies which suffer from endemic hunger have prevented the occurrence of famines but countries or societies that reduce hunger and enlarge access to health and education may fail to prevent famine. The article analyses the differing approaches and experience of South Asian countries against the background of these propositions, particularly their success or failure in establishing and implementing "entitlement protection schemes" within the ambit of framework of poverty alleviation. The article concludes that factors that stimulate public action in this field are many and varied and are affected by the combination of social, traditional and political conditions prevailing in different countries.